Back to School Q&A for Parents with Curious Kids!

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It’s that time of year again… Back to School! Help your kids get ready with these read-aloud answers to all of their school-related “why’s”!
 

Why do we have school?

Did you know that schools have been around for thousands of years?? The ancient cultures of places like Egypt, China, Greece, India (and more) all had schools!

Of course, schools weren’t always the same as they are now. Although most kids in countries like the U.S. now go to school for eight or nine months of the year and attend classes with kids their same age, this wasn’t always the case! For example, many early U.S. schools were “one-room schoolhouses” where kids of all ages and levels learned together. Often, kids were needed at home to help with farming or other work and only attended school for a few months. Kids who were able to attend school full-time usually came from wealthier families or families who could afford to let their children study instead of work.

With advancements in education and greater importance placed on learning, schools eventually became further-reaching in many places in the world. Instead of learning just reading, writing, and basic maths, most students now study sciences, history, art, and more!
 

Why are school buses yellow?

One thing almost all students have in common is that at some point, they will climb onboard a long yellow school bus!

Believe it or not, the color yellow was picked for a pretty simple reason: because the black lettering on the buses can most easily be read against that color! Many school buses are out at times of the day (like the very early morning) when there might not be much sunlight. The light bus color certainly helps!

Yellow was made the official color of school buses during a big school bus conference in 1939. Although, Frank W. Cyr, the man who organized the conference, apparently always thought the color was more orange than yellow!
 

What does a teacher do?

Did you know that teachers like to learn? In fact, teachers love to learn, which is why they spend their days helping others enjoy the learning process!

There is more to a teacher’s day than teaching. Teachers plan lessons (which means they look for fun and interesting ways to introduce new information!), grade papers, make tests, write report cards, and talk with their students’ parents to let them know how their children are doing. Teachers enjoy getting to know their students and figuring out how they learn best! Teachers also meet with the grown-ups at their school, like the principal and other teachers. They share ideas and find new ways to make their school a great place.

Most importantly, did you know that teachers learn from their students? You are a unique person with many gifts to share with the world. Your questions and thoughts about life and learning are important to your teachers and inspire them each day!
 

Why are some kids bullies? 

Most kids who bully want to feel important. They feel powerful when they make someone else feel bad, scared, hurt, embarrassed, lonely, or sad.

Some bullies live in families where there’s a lot of anger and shouting. They may live in neighborhoods or attend schools where they see people picking on or teasing others. They learn that sometimes people get their way when they act mean or push others around. Many bullies have been bullied themselves.

Bullies don’t have to have a good reason for picking on someone. Sometimes they pick on kids who are different from them in some way, or who get upset easily. Often they bully someone for no reason at all except that it makes them feel powerful.

Remember -- you are not the one with the problem. The bully is the one with the problem. To avoid bullies, don’t play with kids who make you feel scared or uncomfortable. Stick with friends and play in areas where you feel safe and where adults are nearby. And act brave! Sometimes a bully may leave you alone if you act brave and confident -- even if you don’t feel that way!

Why do we have homework?

After a long school day, it's nice to have some down time! Why do teachers ask that certain assignments be completed at home?

While parents, teachers, and experts have different ideas about the amount and type of homework that’s most helpful for kids, many feel that taking time to do work at home helps you be the best student you can be!

If you play on a team, you get better at your sport the more you practice, right? Well, understanding math, language arts and other subjects takes practice too! Sometimes it’s hard to really understand something new unless you review or practice it, and some teachers feel it takes a little more practice at home to really get it down. Many teachers also feel that homework helps develop study and time-management skills.

So, get together your best pencils, paper, and erasers! Once you become a homework champ, you’ll be good at making time for all sorts of things, from learning to after-school activities to time with friends and family!

The above answers were written by Mya Kagan, Brian Griffin, Kate Simmons, and Dr. Dawn Taylor. For more on these topics and endless others, just browse or search!